Tree-type lighting fixture and room divider



Dec. 15, 1964 ISAACSON TREE-TYPE LIGHTING FIXTURE AND ROOM DIVIDER FiledAug. 51, 1962 INVENTOR.

BY X Z 4 a i firm/(Wire United States Patent Ofitice jj i ff i l 3,16 6v V TREE-TYPELIGHTING FIXTURE AND 1100M DIWDER 7 Louis Isaacson, 3515Arfrnit'a'ge Ave, (Jhiea'go 47, iii. rues Aug. 31, 1962, Sort. N zzasvr3 Ciai'ms. (Ci. 182-26) My invention relates to a tree-type lightingfixture and room divider and has for its principal object the provisionof a fixture of this character which will be highly efficient in use andone which may be manufachired at an economical cost.

Another object of my invention resides in the novel construction foreifectively and efiiciently connecting the adjustable floor-engaging rodto the tubular section of the lighting fixture, to cooperate with aceiling-engaging rod to support the fixture in a vertical positionbetween the floor and the ceiling.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed. The invention will be bestunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing thepreferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the fixture em bodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the construction forattaching the floor-engaging rod to a tubular section of the fixture,the parts being illustrated in exploded relation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cap embodied in the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the construction for attaching aceiling rod to the tubular section of the fixture, the parts being shownin exploded relation;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view taken substantially on line 6-6of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is 'a special tool for assembling certain parts of the fixtureembodying my invention.

The several objects of my invention are preferably accomplished by thepreferred form of my construction shownin the accompanying drawings. Inthis connection, my improved fixture as shown in such drawings comprisesa tubular member 10 which may be a one-piece construction or, as shownin the drawings, formed of two sections 11 and 12 connected together bymeans of a bayonet groove 13 and projection 13' engageable therein. Theupper end portion of the section 11 is closed by a cap 14 having asleeve 15 which fits into the upper portion of the section 11 and isfirmly connected thereto by means of bayonetgrooves 16 and projections17 en- 'gageable therein.

The cap 14 in its top is provided with a central opening 18 throughwhich slidably projects an upper extension rod 19. On the interior endportion of the rod 19 is a disc 20 o f a diameter sufi'iciently lessthan the inside diameter of the section 11 whereby the rod 19 may beadjusted relative to the tubular section 11. The outer end portion ofthe rod 19; carries a self-adjustable disc 20' which is adapted toengage the ceiling, the self-adjustment of the disc 20 permitting thedisc to conform to the level of the ceiling.

Asshown in FIG. 2 the portion of the tubular section 11 which isprojected into the tubular section 12 is of reduced diameter. A spring21 is arranged between the disc 20 and the restricted portion 22 of thetubular section 11. The function of this spring 21 is to allow thetubular member 10 to be adjusted relative to the rod 19.

The lower end portion of the tubular section 12 is closed by a cap 23which is insertable into the section 12 and is provided with a flange 24which engages the edge portion 25 of the section 12. Aligned sleeves 26and 27 are formed integrally on opposite sides of the cap 23. The sleeve26 projects into the section 12 and is of a diameter less than theinside diameter of the section 12. On opposite sides of the sleeve 26are formed latching lugs 28 each of which provides an L-shaped canuningnotch 29, the camming edge of such notches being shown as at 30.

Formed in the section 12, preferably by striking therefrom, are inwardlyextending projections 31 which are adapted to be received in the notches29 and to engage the camrning edges 30 for camming the cap 23 intoclosing position with respect to the adjacent end of the section 12. Thelatching lugs 28, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, extend transversely of thecap 23 and are of a width less than the inside diameter of the section12 to provide between the lugs and the section 12 on opposite sides ofthe sleeve 26 a passage 32 for an electrical conductor cord 33.

Formed in the lower end portion of the section 12 is a slot 34 which hascommunication with an opening 35. The slot 34 permits the passage of thecord 33 into the opening 35 from whence it extends upwardly through thetubular member 119 for connection to electrical lighting fixture 36. Inthe drawing (FIG. 1) I have shown two such fixtures 26; however, it isto be understood that there may be any number of such fixtures employed.

The sleeve 27 which extends from beneath the cap 23 has a partial sawkerf 37 formed therein. The sleeve 27 is slit longitudinally at 38. Theslit 38 intersects the saw kerf 37. On opposite sides of the slit 38,the sleeve 27 has formed integrally therewith wings 39. A thumb screw 49is projected through one of the wings 39 and threaded into the other ofthe wings.

A lower extension rod 41 is adjustably positioned through the sleeves 26and 27 and is clamped in an adjusted position with respect thereto bymanipulation of the thumb screw 4i. Secured to the lower rod 41 is aself-adjustable disc 42, the self-adjustment of the disc 42 permittingthe same to conform to the level of the floor.

To attach the cap 14 to the section 11, I provide a special tool whichis illustrated in FIG. 7. In this connection, one end of the tool isprovided with a cut-out 43 to provide opposite extensions 44 whichcarry-pins 45 adapted to engage in openings 46 formed in the cap 14, thecut-out portion 43 permitting the pins to be properly positioned inopenings 46. With the pins 45 thus positioned, the operator rotates thecap sufiiciently to move the projections 17 within the horizontalportions of the grooves 16 to effect a firm connection between the cap14 and the section 11.

In order to rotate the cap 23 to eifectively connect it to the tubularsection 12, the tool illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided at its oppositeend portion with parallel fingers 47 which are adapted to engage fiatsurfaces 48 provided by the sleeve 27. With the tool embracing thesleeve 27 and the fingers 47 bearing against the flat surfaces 48 of thesleeve 27, the cap 23 can be effectively rotated to cause the carnmingnotches 29 to cam the cap 23 into an eiiective closed position withrespect to the tubular section 12.

In positioning the fixture between the ceiling and the floor of a room,the tubular member 19 is adjusted rela tive to the rod 19, after whichthe rod 41 is adjusted relative to the cap 23 and after properadjustment the sleeve 27 is effectively clamped to the rod 41 bymanipulation of the thumb screw 40.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I provide a noveland inexpensive construction for accomplishing the several objects of myinvention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do t not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

t Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

less than the diameters of said circular body portion so that one ofsaid sleeves extends freely into said tubular member when said capcloses the same,

(2) an elongated extension rod having oneend projecting through saidsleeves on either side of said cap and through the center opening formedtherein and into said tubular member with its opposite end extendingtherefrom and' into' engagementtwith the floor for supporting saidtubular member thereon, (f) latching lugs carried by said circular bodyportion of said cap on opposite sides of said one of said sleeves andextending radially therefrom into facial A abutment with the inner wallsurface of said tubular" member,

77 (g) said latching lugs having L-shaped camming notches formedtherein, and e (h) projections provided by said tubular member andextending inwardly with respect thereto and into f said notches forcamming said cap into closing position with respect to said end portionof said tubular member upon rotation of said cap concentrically withrespect to said tubular member.

2. A fixture of the class described comprising i (a) an elongatedtubular member, 1

(b) means at opposite ends of said tubular member for attaching saidmember between the ceiling and 11001 of a room,

(0) one of said attaching means comprising a cap hav ing a circular bodyportion with a center opening formed therein whichprojects into andsubstantially closes the adjacent open end of said tubular member, (d)said cap providing integrally formed coaxial sleeves extending fromopposite sides. of said circular 7 body portion with vsaid sleeveshaving diameters which are less than the diameters of said circular por-'tion so that one of said sleeves extends freely into said tubularmember when said cap closes the same, (e) an elongated extension rodhaving one end projecting through said sleeves on either side of saidcap and through thecenter opening formed therein and into said tubularmember with its opposite end extending therefrom and into engagementwith the floor for supporting said tubular member thereon, (f) latchinglugs carried by said circular body portion of said cap on opposite sidesof said one of said sleeves and extending radially therefrom into facialabutment with the inner wall surface of said tubular member, 7 V

(g) said latching lugs having" L-shaped camming e (1) means provided bysaid other of said sleeves for Y clamping said extension rod in apredetermined position relative to said cap and the adjacent end of saidtubular member. 3.- A fixture of'the class describedcomprising (a) anelongated tubular member, a I (b). meansat opposite ends of saidtubularmember for attaching said member between the ceiling and floor of aroom, (c one of said attaching means comprising a cap having; a circularbody portion with a center opening formed therein which projects intoand substantially closes the adjacent open end of said tubular member,(d) said cap providing integrally formed coaxial sleeves extendingfromopposite sides of saidcircular body portionwith said sleeves havingdiameters which are less than the diameters ofsaid circular portion sothat one of said sleeves extends freelyinto said tubular member whensaid cap closes the same, (e) an elongated extensionrod having one endprojecting through said sleeves on either side of said cap and throughthe center opening formed therein and into said tubular member with itsopposite end extending therefrom and into engagement with'the floorfor'supporting said tubular member thereon, (f) latching lugs carriedbysaid circular body portion of said cap on opposite sides of said one ofsaid sleeves and extending radially therefrom into facial abutment withthe inner wall surface of said tubular member, l i(g) said latching lugshaving 'L-shaped' camming notches'formed therein, V (h) projectionprovided by said tubular member and extending inwardly with respectthereto and into said notches' for camming said cap into closingpositionwith respect to'said end portion of said tubular member uponrotation of said .cap concentrically with respect to said tubular.member, I (1') means provided by said other of said sleevesfor 1clamping said extension rod in a predetermined position relative to saidcap and the adjacent endof'said tubular member, I (j) the other saidsleeve having a partial saw kerf formed therein and a slit extendinglongitudinally of the sleeve and intersecting said saw kerf, (k) wingsextending from said other sleeve on opposite sides of said other sleeveon opposite sides of said 'slit, j (l) and a wing nut loosely projectedthrough one of said wings and threaded into theother wing for clamping'said sleeve upon said rod. I

References Cited by the Examiner 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/83 Russell etal. 285 396 X 7/15 Bertram 240- 81 11/21 Rekar 24081; 1/34 Grathwal l.285 -396 X a 5/57 Stiiiel 24081 X *1/63 Mann 2408l 70 NORTON ANSHER,Primary Examiner,

1. A FIXTURE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATED TUBULARMEMBER, (B) MEANS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER FOR ATTACHINGSAID MEMBER BETWEEN THE CEILING AND FLOOR OF A ROOM, (C) ONE OF SAIDATTACHING MEANS COMPRISING A CAP HAVING A CIRCULAR BODY PORTION WITH ACENTER OPENING FORMED THEREIN WHICH PROJECTS INTO AND SUBSTANTIALLYCLOSES THE ADJACENT OPEN END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, (D) SAID CAPPROVIDING INTEGRALLY FORMED COAXIAL SLEEVES EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID CIRCULAR BODY PORTION WITH SAID SLEEVES HAVING DIAMETERSWHICH ARE LESS THAN THE DIAMETERS OF SAID CIRCULAR BODY PORTION SO THATONE OF SAID SLEEVES EXTENDS FREELY INTO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHEN SAIDCAP CLOSES THE SAME, (E) AN ELONGATED EXTENSION ROD HAVING ONE ENDPROJECTING THROUGH SAID SLEEVES ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID CAP AND THROUGHTHE CENTER OPENING FORMED THEREIN AND INTO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WITH ITSOPPOSITE END EXTENDING THEREFROM AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLOOR FORSUPPORTING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER THEREON, (F) LATCHING LUGS CARRIED BYSAID CIRCULAR BODY PORTION OF SAID CAP ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ONE OFSAID SLEEVES AND EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREFROM INTO FACIAL ABUTMENT WITHTHE INNER WALL SURFACE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, (G) SAID LATCHING LUGSHAVING L-SHAPED CAMMING NOTCHES FORMED THEREIN, AND (H) PROJECTIONSPROVIDED BY SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND EXTENDING INWARDLY WITH RESPECTTHERETO AND INTO SAID NOTCHES FOR CAMMING SAID CAP INTO CLOSING POSITIONWITH RESPECT TO SAID END PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER UPON ROTATION OFSAID CAP CONCENTRICALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER.